By Dr. Jason Ehtessabian, CDA Treasurer
From the Spring 2017 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association
Have you ever stayed with a vendor or company simply because it was less work than finding a new and better option? I’ll admit it, I have. That said, I don’t do that anymore, now that I’ve become more aware of the research literally at my fingertips.
Some of you may already know that the CDA endorses companies. Some of you maybe didn’t realize this cost-saving benefit existed. I’m here to tell you how these companies get endorsed and why you should care.
In order for a company to earn the endorsement of the CDA, it must be carefully and critically examined to ensure it is worthy of wearing the CDA badge. These companies are not only held to high standards, but also must conduct themselves in a fashion that makes them easy to recommend to our members.
On top of being an outstanding company, each vendor must offer incentives and/or discounts exclusive to CDA members. And in addition to these killer deals on great products that we need to run our offices, these companies must give a portion of all transactions back to the CDA. In March, the CDA added four new companies to its endorsement lineup.
CyraCom
844-737-0781
cyracom.com/ada
A recent federal rule requires dental offices that see patients under certain federally financed programs, like Medicaid and CHP+, to provide free-of-charge language assistance services to people who speak languages other than English or who don’t speak English well enough to talk to providers about the care they are providing. Dental offices have a number of options to comply with this requirement, including using a translating service. We conducted an extensive due diligence process to find the best service for dentists, and CyraCom came out on top. CyraCom has worked with us to offer premium rates to CDA members for interpretation services, with no start-up costs or minimum monthly fees.
CyraCom provides our members with easy online sign-up and no startup costs or minimums. They offer full compliance with the federal rule and access to certified interpreters in hundreds of languages. CyraCom interpreters complete a 120-hour certification course and specialize in healthcare interpreting. CDA members receive nearly 70% off interpretation services compared with those who sign up outside the CDA endorsed products program.
Lenovo
800-426-7235 x4886
lenovo.com/ada
We are proud to have teamed up with Lenovo, a global leader in the PC marketplace, to offer you discounts on its entire line of reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products. CDA members receive up to 30% off the everyday public online price of everything you need for your office and home, including laptops, desktops, tablets, all-in-ones, workstations, servers, accessories and more. This includes savings on top products such as the award-winning ThinkPad notebooks and innovative multimedia Yoga Tablets. Additionally, members receive free ground shipping on all online orders, monthly limited-time special offers, and access to energy-efficient green technologies while enjoying award-winning service and support. So whether you need a technology boost at the office, a device to stream your favorite TV show, or a tool to help your kids with their homework, the CDA and Lenovo have you covered.
AHI Travel
800-323-7373
ada.ahitravel.com
Want to mix business with pleasure? How about learning with travel? AHI Travel will send you on the trip of a lifetime. River, land and ocean journeys are based on itineraries that balance the must-see with the road less traveled and include enough flexibility to accommodate individual preferences. All of AHI’s programs feature a strong educational component and the goal of presenting worry-free travel experiences that foster a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and natural phenomena by putting travelers in direct touch with local people and cultures.
A single point of contact at AHI will help members book airfare, plan pre-or-post trip extensions, and be accessible to answer all questions. An early booking discount of $250 is available to CDA members on select trips. CDA members who book trips with AHI will receive personalized customer service and assistance preparing for all aspects of the trip, and the opportunity to attend a dentistry-related reception.
HealthFirst Sharps Management
888-963-6787
healthfirst.com/ada
HealthFirst Sharps Management is a compliant and economical choice for disposing of your practice’s sharps waste. A typical dental practice can save $1,000-$2,000 annually when compared to traditional pickup services. Currently, a 20% discount off the purchase of a large capacity (eight or 18 gallon) sharps kit is available. Additionally, CDA members will enjoy an exclusive 10% discount off all future sharps management or medical waste management product purchases. The containers meet OSHA’s best practices for sharps handling and the specially packaged mail-back kits are designed so UPS can pick them up just like a regular package.
We are confident that this new relationship will benefit members by offering a product with the potential to deliver significant cost savings. CDA members can also expect to receive excellent customer service from a company that has been fully vetted and excels in the dental business space. HealthFirst has been educating and protecting its dental clients for over 40 years, and services approximately half of all American dental practices.
Membership in the Colorado Dental Association can pay for itself if you take advantage of the tremendous savings offered by our endorsed companies. As a member benefit, we’ve researched and screened multiple dental-related companies so you don’t have to, and we’ve negotiated prices exclusively for members.
The CDA endorsements with Sharkey, Howes and Javer and InTouch Communications will end March 31. The CDA and CDA Enterprises will be exploring new endorsement opportunities to bring new benefits to our membership. Check out the entire lineup of CDA Endorsed Products.